Injured, blind tuskers at Pooram
Collector V. Ratheesan did not permit them to attend fitness examination camp held on April 16 for these elephants.
THRISSUR: Wounded, blind, debilitated and suffering elephants in illegal custody were paraded on April 17 and 18 during Thrissur Pooram, says Animal Welfare Board of India in its report submitted to the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The four veterinary experts deputed by the board were in Thrissur for pooram and the 33-page report they prepared has several photographs and videos of the injured and unfit elephants paraded there.
The report of vet trainer Dr Rakesh Chittora and AWBI honorary members M. N. Jayachandran, Preethi Sreevalsan and Sunil Havaldar, says Thrissur city police commissioner K. G. Simon refused them police protection to assess 67 elephants which got fitness certificates from forest and vet departments citing law and order issues.
Collector V. Ratheesan did not permit them to attend fitness examination camp held on April 16 for these elephants. The report assumes importance as the apex court is expected to hold a hearing on the petition against the use of elephants in public and religious events on Wednesday which was earlier submitted by Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC).
Reacting to the report, Thiruvambadi Devaswom Board president M. Madhavankutty said the photos which show injured and sick elephants might have been shot somewhere else and the allegations of elephant torture was a ploy by those associated with the pro-animal NGOs to get foreign funds.